Box



y 1934. w. TROGMAN 1,959,649

BOX

Filed Nov. 25, 1933 VVillz'am Tr 'oyman [In/enforby g t forru ys Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved box which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and etficient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper, fiberboard, or like box, carton 'or container, having new and improved means formed therein and integrally therewith for separably latching the top and bottom parts or sections of the box together, in closed position and against separation relativeto each other, without the use of string, twine, adhesive tape, or the like.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The drawing illustrates the invention, and therein:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a preferred form of the new box or carton with the top and bottom parts thereof latched together and the box in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box of Fig. 1 showing the top and bottom parts thereof disassembled;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view on line 3.3 in Fig. 1 showing a preferred form of the new latching device in operative or latching position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 in Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the new box showing parts of the top of the box broken away to-reveal. the structure and operation of a modified form of latching device embodied in the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view, on line 66 in Fig. 5, showing the construction of the modifled form of latching device; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 in Fig. 6.

A preferred form of the new box, carton, or like container is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and is therein generally indicated at 10. The box or carton 10 may be made of any suitable material such, for example, as paper board, cardboard, or like fibrous materials which are well known in the art and comprises a bottom or body, generally indicated atll, and having an open top. The box 10 also includes a top or closure member, generally indicated at 12, and which is receivable upon the bottom 11 to close the open top of the latter.

Formed in the end walls 13 and 14 of the bottom 11 of the box are slits or openings 15 and 16, respectively, (Fig. 2); these slits or openings 15 and 16 being formed by cutting latching members or tabs 17 and 18, respectively,'in the end walls 13 and 14 in such a manner that the latching members or tabs 17 and 18 extend in opposite directions, that is, the tabs 17 and 18 are each integrally united at one end, as at 19 and 20, to the walls 13 and l4, respectively, and at opposite ends.

and without fold or crease lines, for reasons to be pointed out hereinafter. Similarly, latching slits or openings 21 and 22 are formed in the side walls 23 and 24, respectively, of the bottom or body 11 of the box 10 by forming oppositely extending latching members or tabs 25 and 26, respectively, in the side walls 23 and 24 of the bottom 11 of the box; these latching tabs 25 and 26 each being integrally united at one end to the side walls 23 and 24 of the bottom of the box and being formed as are the tabs 17 and 18, without fold or crease lines at their points of juncture with the walls of the bottom of the box.

Formed in each of the end walls 27 of the top portion 12 of the box 10 is a latching member or tab 29. These tabs 29 are integrally formed to the end walls 27 of the box top 12 along the lines 28, without fold or crease lines. A similar tab 30 is formed in each of the side walls 31 of the top 12 of the box and these tabs 30 are also integrally joined to the side walls 31 of the top of the box without fold or crease lines.

Each of the tabs 29 has a tongue 32 cut or otherwise formed therein and these tongues 32 are integrally formed to the tabs 29 without fold or crease lines. Likewise, a tongue 33 is formed in each of the tabs 30 and formed thereto without fold or crease lines, these tongues 33 being similar to the tongues 32.

To latch the top and bottom sections 12 and 11, respectively, of the box together, the top part 12 of the box is slipped or.fitted onto the bottom part 11 so that the parts assume the position of Fig. 1; whereupon the tongues 32 and 33 are pushed inwardly through the slits or openings 15 and 22, respectively, by means of the finger or other instrument. This causes the inner ends of the tongues 32 and 33 to bear against, and to ride over, the tabs 17 and 26, respectively, thereby pushing the latter inwardly, until finally the tongues 32 and 33 assume a position substantially at right-angles to the tabs 17 and 26, respectively, as illustrated by the en gagement of the tongue 32 with the tab 17 in Fig. 3. In this position the tongues 32 and 33 having a tendency to straighten themselves out into parallel relation with the walls of the top of the box, bear against the inner ends of the tabs 17 and 26, respectively, and by so doing latch the topand bottom parts of the box together; while at the same time the oppositely extending arrangement of the tabs 25 and 26, relative to each other, and likewise the oppositely extending arrangement of the tabs 17 and 18 relative to each other, prevents accidental unlatching of the top and bottom parts of the box by slight movements of the box parts relative to each other.

To remove the top 12 of the box from the b0- tom 11 the tabs 29 and 30 may be pivoted or pulled outwardly, relative to the box, (to the left as seen in Fig. 3). This movement of the tabs 29 and 30 disengages the tongues 32 and 33 from latching engagement with the tongues 17 and 26, respectively, so that the top part 12 of the box may be removed from the bottom thereof. To facilitate this operation of pulling the tabs 29 and 30 outwardly relative to the tabs 17 a cut-out portion 34 is formed in each of the walls of the'top 12 of the box adjacent the free ends of the tabs 29 and 30, so that the finger nail or other instrument may be inserted therein whereby to grasp the free ends of the tabs 29 and 30 to pull the same outwardly.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs.,5, 6 and 7 and therein a paper board or fiber box or like carton or container embodying a modification of the invention, is shown and generally indicated at 35. The box 35 comprises a body 37 having an open top and a closure member or top 36 receivable upon the body 37 to close the latter. Formed in each of the side and end walls 38 and 39, respectively, of the top section or closure member 36 of the box 35 is a latching member or tab 40 and formed in each of the side and end walls 41 of the bottom section or body 37 of the box 35 is a slit or opening 42.

To latch the top and bottom section 36 and 37, respectively, of the box 35 together, the top 36 is slipped over the bottom 37 and the tabs 40 are pressed inwardly through the slits or openings 42. During this movement the tabs 40 are pivoted (counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 6) and bear at their inner ends against the tabs 43, until finally the tabs 40 pass completely over the tabs 43 and project substantially rightangularly therefrom, as seen in Figs. 6 and '7, and thus the box is held in closed position.

The tabs 40, being joined integrally with the walls 38 and 39 inwhich they are formed, without crease or fold lines, have a tendency to straighten out into parallelism with the walls 38 and 39, in which they are formed, and this causes the tabs 40 to bear against the inner ends of the tabs 43, as seen in Figs. 6 and '7, and thus securely latch the top and bottom parts of the box together.

To remove the top 36 from the bottom 37 of the box 35, the finger or other instrument may be inserted between corresponding parallel walls of the top and bottom of the box and the tabs 43 pushed inwardly (clockwise, Fig. 6) until their inner ends clear the tabs 40, whereupon the tabs 40 and 43 spring back, by their own resiliency, into parallel relation with the sides of the box so that the top of the box may readily be removed from the bottom thereof; it being noted that the tabs 43 are urged into parallel relation preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. 1

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Paten is:

1. A fiber box comprising a body or bottom section having an open top and a closure member or top section receivable upon said body to close the said open top thereof; said body includind side and end walls having resilient, yieldable latching tabs formed integrally therewith and having openings provided therein by the formation of said tabs and said openings being substantially coextensive with said tabs; said closure member or top section including side and end walls having tabs formed thereinqsaid second-named tabs having resilient, yieldable latching tabs formed therein receivable in said openings and when therein cooperating with said first-named tabs to latch the said body and closure member together against separation relative to each other.

2. A fiber box comprising a body or bottom section having an open top and a closure member or top section receivable upon said body to close the said open top thereof; said body including side and end walls having resilient, yieldable latching tabs formed integrally therewith and having openings provided therein by the formation of said tabs and said openings being substantially coextensive with said tabs; said closure member or top section including side and end walls having tabs formed therein; said secondnamed tabs having resilient, yieldable latching tabs formed therein receivable in said openings and when therein bearing by their own resiliency against the free ends of said first-named tabs to latch the said body and closure member together against separation relative to each other.

3. A fiber box comprising a body or bottom section having an open top and a closure member or top section receivable upon said body to close the said open top thereof; said body including walls having resilient, yieldable latching tabs formed integrally therewith and having openings provided therein by the formation of said tabs and said openings being substantially coextensive with said tabs; said closure member or top section including walls having tabs formed therein; said,

second-named tabs having resilient, yieldable latching tabs formed therein receivable in said openings'and when therein bearing by their own resiliency against the free ends of said .firstnamed tabs to latch the said body and closure member together against separation relative to each other.

4. A box comprising a body or bottom section having an open top and a closure member or top section receivable upon said body to close the said open top thereof; one of said sections including a wall having a yieldable latching element formed therein and having an opening provided therein by the formation of said latching element; the other of said sections including a wall havinga handle portion provided therein and said handle portion having a latching element formed therein; said second-named latching element being receivable in said opening and when therein cooperating with said first-named latching element to latch the said body and closure member together.

WILLIAM TROGMAN. 

